Ravens' Isaiah Likely Predicted to Join Local Rival

Zachary Pereles sees Likely as a top-50 free agency asset when surveying the NFL's most intriguing contract decisions awaiting every league-wide team-builder, but he isn't predicting that the Ravens retain their enticing tight end. Instead, he's envisioning Likely's cross-state move to the Washington Commanders.

"Washington needs to replace Zach Ertz, and Likely provides speed and athleticism Jayden Daniels hasn't had at the position before," Pereles wrote.

Running Out of Room

The Commanders just endured a season defined by the old age of their roster, and could use some fresh juice in the massive pass-catcher to reinvigorate Daniels' offense.

Those are the same traits that the Ravens will miss if Likely walks for nothing, as Lamar Jackson's own scoring scheme needs all of the scorers it can get. He severely lacked in reliable playmakers to make good on his passes, and though Likely was no stranger to the occasional gaffe, he provides youth and upside that the franchise could benefit from.

The franchise clearly doesn't want to pay him based on his upside, though, allowing him to test his market away from the only NFL team he's ever known. He, alongside Linderbaum, each provided plenty of chances for the organization to ink them past their fourth campaigns, but occasional flashes haven't proved enough to buy them any more security.

While Likely's 2025 season came and went without a reported extension offer, his inter-positional teammate, Mark Andrews, was allowed to re-up for a few more years despite his own slipping production. Likely's long been held back by Andrews, a longtime favorite target of Jackson, locking down the starting spot, and the idea that he'll likely remain handcuffed to the bench can't be enticing for anyone looking for a breakout.

Plenty of organizations could use some youth at tight end, a position that's growing increasingly-popular as deceptive passing attacks continue growing in size, The Commanders, as well as Pereles' other alternatives in the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, could afford to get younger in bolstering their respective receiving cores. And while the Ravens may be keen on continuing to diversify Minter's first-year offense, the cap-strung team may have to watch their former fourth-round pick travel elsewhere for his competitive football fix.